Plants Safe For Rabbits

Introduction

Hello friends, hope you all are doing great with your beloved bunny.

A common concern for people who pet rabbits or are thinking about doing so is which plants safe for rabbit! I am going to talk about houseplants and flowers that you might have around your home that are safe and not safe to have around your rabbit.

Are Poisonous Plants Dangerous to Rabbits?

First, let’s talk about plants and flowers in general. How dangerous are poisonous plants to rabbits?

Is this something that should be a major concern? The reality is, most of the time, plants are actually not going to be a major danger to your rabbit. They are herbivores, and their digestion was made in a way that makes it less likely that they will be poisoned by plant substances than other types of animals that are carnivores or just don’t have as much of a plant-based diet. You can also read “what to feed baby rabbit”.

Some plants that are toxic to other animals really aren’t that toxic to rabbits, and most of the time, if a rabbit comes across a plant that is toxic to them, they might take a nibble and then decide they don’t like it and won’t eat anymore.

Why Houseplants Pose a Risk to Rabbits

The problem with houseplants is that oftentimes it’s kind of a scarcity mindset for rabbits.

So they’ll come across a houseplant, and if it’s the only plant around, they’ll start nibbling on it, even if it’s not something they would normally eat the whole thing of. Now, all of a sudden, they want to eat the whole thing because there are no other plants around.

A rabbit taking a few bites of a plant that’s not good for them isn’t a big deal, but if they eat an entire houseplant or an entire bouquet of flowers that is poisonous or toxic to them, then that can end up causing some serious side effects.

So, we still want to make sure we take that into consideration with all of the plants we have around our home.

Now, obviously, we probably also don’t want to put the ones that are safe for rabbits within their reach because they’ll end up just eating them up, and then you no longer have your plants anymore. But, at least you know that it’s not going to be harmful to your rabbit if they eat it. You can also read “what can’t rabbit eat”

Safe Houseplants for Rabbits

Let’s talk about a few safe plants that you might have around your home.

Roses

So, safe plants that you might have around your home — the first one we’ll talk about is roses. Roses are actually very interesting because they have some medicinal effects for rabbits. The entire rose plant is safe for your rabbit to eat, but the rose petals, in particular, are healthy for rabbits. They are a mild anti-carcinogen, which means they make it a little less likely that your rabbit will develop cancer.

The rose hips are also believed to help a little bit with the digestive health of rabbits. Herbs, in general, tend to be great houseplants to have around when you have a rabbit. They are very healthy and yummy for rabbits. Just about any kind of herb is safe. You can also read “what kind of lettuce can rabbit eat”.

Herbs

I have tried growing parsley and basil for my bunny, but you can also grow other kinds as well. I know many people keep these as houseplants inside, maybe in their kitchen window or something, to use with their food. You can also give clippings of these to your rabbit because they are perfectly safe for rabbits to eat.

They’re also very healthy for rabbits. These are houseplants that, if your rabbit gets to them, well, there goes your plant, but at least you know your rabbit is not going to have any digestive problems. They are very healthy for rabbits. You can also read “what vegetables can rabbits eat”.

Sunflowers

Another type of flower you might have decorating your home is sunflowers. You can put these in a vase, making your kitchen all pretty with the beautiful sunflowers. If your rabbit happens to get at them, it’s okay. They can have a sunflower, and it is perfectly healthy for rabbits to eat.

You certainly don’t want to give your rabbit a gigantic sunflower and let them have at it — that would be a bit much. If you want to give your rabbit sunflower petals as a treat, that’s okay, but it isn’t going to harm your rabbit’s health. It’s not toxic to rabbits.

Sunflower seeds, interestingly, are one of the few types of seeds that are safe for rabbits to eat. Obviously, those should also be given as treats, but you can give your rabbit some sunflower seeds if you want to. You can also read “can rabbits eat tomato”.

Jade Plants

If you’re looking for a succulent that would be safe for your rabbit to eat, go for the jade plant. Most of the time, rabbits aren’t going to try to eat succulents anyway — they’re not really the texture that rabbits normally go for.

But every once in a while, you’ll get a rabbit who will eat literally anything. So not all succulents are great for rabbits, but jade plants are not toxic, making them a good choice. From what I’ve heard, they’re supposed to be very easy for beginners to grow, so if you’re looking for a first-time plant, that might be something to try.

I’m personally not that great at growing plants, so maybe I should try getting a jade plant.

Orchids

Another common flower you might have in your home is orchids. These are perfectly safe for rabbits to eat, not toxic in any way, in any part of them.

Of course, orchids are probably a little too expensive to get for your rabbit as a snack, but if your rabbit does munch on your flowers, at least you don’t have to worry about their health.

Toxic Plants to Avoid

Now, let’s go into just a few plants that are toxic for rabbits. As I said, most plants are not going to be severely toxic.

I would actually be much more concerned about any added pesticides or toxic chemicals in fertilizers than about most flowers themselves. But it’s still a good idea to keep these away from your rabbit because if they eat a lot of it, it could cause gastrointestinal issues, leading to GI stasis or other health complications. So, definitely keep these plants completely out of your rabbit’s reach and be careful with them. You can also read “why won’t my bunny eat”.

Lilies

The first one I will mention is lilies. Most types of lilies are toxic to rabbits, mildly toxic, causing gastrointestinal problems. This includes peace lilies, which I believe are common houseplants, so you definitely want to keep these away from your rabbit.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths can also be toxic to rabbits in large quantities, and this includes the entire plant — flowers, stems, roots, and leaves. You definitely want to keep this away from your rabbit. Again, not severely poisonous — don’t freak out if your rabbit takes a bite — but it’s worth keeping out of reach.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas

Rhododendrons are another plant to keep away from your rabbit. This includes flowers like azaleas, which are a little more toxic than the ones I’ve mentioned before. Not worth panicking over, but if your rabbit takes a bite out of an azalea plant, it’s a good idea to give your vet a call and find out what symptoms to look out for.

Again, your rabbit is probably not going to have a fatal experience, but you don’t want them eating the entire plant or a large bouquet of flowers.

Ivy Plants

Most ivy plants should also be kept away from your rabbit. There are many decorative ivy plants, so try to make sure they don’t drape too close to the floor where your rabbit can get to them. Ivy plants have a high concentration of saponins, especially in the berries and leaves. If your rabbit eats a large quantity, it could lead to anemia. So, avoid them as much as possible. Again, a small amount isn’t a big deal, but your rabbit eating the whole ivy plant could be bad for their health.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are another plant to avoid. The flowers of mums are actually safe for rabbits to eat, but the stems and leaves contain pyrethrins, a compound used in insecticides, which is highly toxic to rabbits.

You really want to keep chrysanthemums away from your rabbit. The good news is, most of the time, these plants have a fuzzy texture that makes rabbits not want to eat them anyway, but if they do, it’s best to keep them out of reach to avoid poisoning.

Conclusion

So, now hope you got the answer about “plants safe for rabbits” and also “which plants are not safe for rabbit” Thank you so much for reading! If you’re interested in more information about rabbits and rabbit care, go ahead and check out my other articles.

If you found this article helpful, please share it with your bunny lover friends.